From a single product produced in a single brewery in 1890, San Miguel Beer has developed an array of popular beer products over the past century, catering to the distinct tastes and preferences of beer drinkers across all segments and markets. Today, it carries a portfolio of strong and popular beer brands including its flagship brand San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Red Horse Beer, San Mig Light, San Miguel Flavored Beer, San Mig Zero, San Miguel Cerveza Negra, and San Miguel Cerveza Blanca.
These products carry distinct attributes that cater to various types of drinkers and have earned international recognition for quality, winning in the prestigious Monde International Selection almost on an annual basis, among other awards and citations.
San Miguel has found three homes in three markets where San Miguel has been proudly welcomed as a local brand in each country – Philippines, Hong Kong and Spain. It became an integral part of their everyday life woven into their respective cultures and a witness to their history throughout the years.
EARLY BEGINNINGS
San Miguel Beer was first produced by La Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel, an upstart brewery in the heart of Manila that began its operations in 1890. It received the Royal Grant from the Spanish king to brew beer in the Philippines, then a colony of Spain.
VENTURING OVERSEAS
By 1914, San Miguel embarked on a journey across Asia, exporting its beer to Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guam, becoming one of the first brewers to venture beyond its home market.
EXPANDING ACROSS BORDERS
In 1937, San Miguel crossed oceans to invest in a brewery in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, making San Miguel Beer the first Asian beer brewed locally in the United States. In 1957, San Miguel established a brewery in Lérida, Spain, and brewed the first San Miguel beer in Europe.
STRENGTHENING ASIAN FOOTHOLD
In 1948, San Miguel continued its international expansion by establishing a brewery in Sham Tseng, Hong Kong. Since then, it has set up additional breweries across the Asian region including China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
DIVERSIFYING GROWTH
In the Philippines, the beer business steadily grew and became the foundation for San Miguel’s expansion into various industries, including food, beverages, packaging, power, oil, airlines, and infrastructure – making it one of the country’s largest diversified conglomerates.
OVER A CENTURY OF BREWING EXCELLENCE
In its journey of over 130 years, San Miguel Beer has become globally recognized and respected, with its products available across nearly every continent.